Making space for floodwater in Belford

Posted by The Journal on Oct 9, 08 03:37 PM in News

Newcastle University and the Environment Agency are monitoring the results of new land management techniques in the catchment upstream of Belford in Northumberland.

More than 30 properties and a caravan park in the town are at risk of flooding from Belford Burn, but the layout of Belford means building traditional flood walls and embankments is too expensive.

The Making Space for Water programme is one of the Environment Agency's top policies.

Changes of land use, such as building houses, putting down concrete or digging drainage ditches, can have an effect on flood risk.

The agency is investigating land management practices and their implications for flood risk.

The Belford pilot involves creating many small-scale ponds and pockets of wetland to hold back water, instead of building larger storage reservoirs and altering watercourses. If successful, the techniques developed at Belford could be used to reduce the risk of flooding across England and Wales.

The Belford pilot also includes individual flood protection devices being fitted to some properties and the introduction of a flood warning service for residents and businesses.

The £610,000 package has been funded by the Northumbria regional flood defence committee's Local Levy, which is raised by local authorities in the North East.

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